Rainbow Stripped! (aka Tabi Monogatari v12)

Time for another pair of mid-calf socks for my hubby.  Using my Blue Stripped Ragg in Paton's Kroy Socks and my new 4" Chiaogoo interchangeables US 0 needles, I casted on 50 sts based on my last sock for him.  I tried it on his foot and it fit! ♡

Here's what I did:
1. I started with a Provisional cast on with a total of 50 sts.
2. K 1 straight row on each side, then connected in the round.
3. K 15 rows in the round as part of the foot portion.
4. Started the toes: with 25 sts on each side, splitting it up for 8 sts for big toe, 17 

    sts for remaining toes.

5. Big toe:

• Row 1:
• Front: k to the 2nd to the last st, pick up 1 st below, for a total of 9 sts
• Back: k, pick up a st below, k to the end for a total of 9 sts
• Row 2: 
• Front: k to the 2nd to the last st, pick up 1 st below, for a total of 10 sts
• Back: k, pick up a st below, k to the end for a total of 10 sts
• Row 3: k
• Row 4-7 (4 rows): Follow Row 2-3 until there are 12 sts
• Row 8-16 (9 rows): k
• Row 17:
• Front: k to last 2 sts, k2tog for a total of 11 sts
• Back: SSK, k to the end for a total of 11 sts
• Row 18: same as row 17 continuing to decrease 1 st on each side, for a total of 10 sts on each side
• Row 19: 
• Front: k2tog, k, to the end for a total of 9 sts
• Back: k to the last 2 sts, k2tog for a total of 9 sts
• Row 20-21 (2 rows): k
• Row 22:
• Front: k, to the last 2 sts, k2tog for a total of 8 sts
• Back: SSK, k to the end for a total of 8 sts
• Row 23-24 (2 rows): k
• Row 25:
• Front: k2tog, k to the end for a total of 7 sts
• Back: k to the last 2 sts, k2tog for a total of 7 sts
• Row 26: k
• Row 27:
• Front: k2tog, k to the last 2 sts, k2tog for a total of 5 sts
• Back: SSK, k to the last 2 sts, SSK for a total of 5 sts
• Row 28: k
• Row 29: same as row 27 continuing to decrease 2 sts, total of 3 sts on each side
• Bound off using the Kitchener stitch.

    The big toe came out to 5.5 cm (2 in).

6. The rest of the toes:

• Row 1: k, picking up 5 sts on each side, for a total of 22 sts
• Row 2:
• Front: k2tog, k to the end for a total of 21 sts
• Back: k to the last 2 sts, k2tog for a total of 21 sts
• Row 3:
• Front: k to the last 2 sts, k2tog for a total of 20 sts
• Back: ktog, k the end for a total of 20 sts
• Row 4: k
• Row 5:
• Front: k2tog, k to the last 2 sts, ssk for a total of 18 sts
• Back: ssk. k to the last 2 sts, k2tog for a total of 18 sts
• Row 6: 
• Front: k2tog, k to the end for a total of 17 sts
• Back: k to the last 2 sts, ssk for a total of 17 sts
• Row 7:
• Front: k to the last 2 sts, ssk for a total of 16 sts
• Back: ssk, k to the end for a total of 16 sts
• Row 8: 
• Front: ssk, k to the end for a total of 15 sts
• Back: k to the last 2 sts, k2tog for a total of 15 sts
• Row 9: 
• Front: ssk, k to the end, for a total of 14 sts
• Back: k to the last 2 sts, k2tog for a total of 14 sts
• Row 10: 
• Front: ssk, k to the end for a total of 13 sts
• Back: k to the last 2 sts, ssk for a total of 13 sts
• Row 11-12 (2 rows): k
• Row 13-18: same as Row 9-10 for 12, 11, 10, 9, 8 & 7 sts
• Row 19:
• Front: k2tog, k to the last 2 sts, ssk for a total of 5 sts
• Back: ssk, k to the last 2 sts, k2tog for a total of 5 sts
• Row 20-21 (2 rows): k
• Bound off using the Kitchener stitch.

    The rest of the toe came out to 4.8 cm (1⅝ in)
(Sorry, I was so excited to get that portion done, I forgot to take a picture!)

7. Then I went back to the bottom of the provisional cast on and picked up the 

    stitches to start the foot.

• Row 16: pick up a st from the “front” side and put it on the “back” side; pick up a st from the “back” side, bringing it behind the st picked up from the “front” and put it on the “front” side. Then k in the round. There should be 26 start on each side.
• Row 17-92 (77 rows): k, maintaining 26 sts on each side
• Row 93: k, pickup 1 st below, k to the last 2 sts, pick up 1 st below, k for a total 27 sts on each side
• Row 94-102 (9 rows): k, maintaining 27 sts on each side
• Row 103: pick up 1 st at the beginning, 1st at the 15th st & 1 st at the end for a total of 30 sts on each side
• Row 104-107 (4 rows): k, maintaining 30 sts on each side
• Including the initial 15 rows, this came out for a total of 19 cm (7 ½ in)

8. With the foot done, I started on the heel portion using the Fish Lips Kiss Heel

method. 

• Row 108:
• Right side: k the “top” portion, moving 1 st from the “back” side for a total of 31 sts; start the heel on the “bottom” portion
• Left side: pick up 2 sts and move it to the “top” portion for a total of 29 sts then start the heel as you’re already on the “bottom” portion
• Row 109-120 (12 rows): Follow the Fish Lips Kiss Heel method until you have 7 twin stitches (ts) knits and purls sts on each side and 13 regular sts
• This came out to 3.5 cm (1 ⅜ in).
• Row 121-135 (15 rows): Continue using the Fish Lips Kiss Heel method to turn the heel until you have a total of 27 sts again. 
• Row 136: 
• Left side: Since the left side ends on a purl side, k to bring you back to the correct side.
• Right side: k
• This came out perfect! :) *yay* :)

Top view of the heels

Bottom view of the heels

Side view of the heels

9. With the heel done, I finished off the leg:

• Row 137: picked up 2 sts on each side, k in the round for a total of 32 sts for each side
• Row 138: k2tog, k in the round for a total of 31 sts for each side
• Row 139: k2tog, k in the round for a total of 30 sts for each side
• Row 140-156 (17 rows): k in the round, maintaining a total of 30 sts on each side
• Row 157: decrease 2 st on each side for a total of 28 sts on each side
• Row 158-161 (4 rows): k, maintaining a total of 28 sts on each side
• Row 162: decrease 1 st on each side for a total of 27 sts on each side 
• Row 163-175 (14 rows): k, maintaining a total of 27 sts on each side
• Total length of the leg was 8.8 cm (3 7/16 in )

10. With the leg done, it was time to cuff; Hubby said he wanted shorter ribbing this 

      time (*yay* homestretch!):

• Row 176-185 (10 rows): complete cuff using 1x1 ribbing (27 sts on each side)
• Row 186: add 2 sts to each side for a total of 29 sts and continue 1x1 ribbing
• Row 187--221 (35 rows): complete cuff using 1x1 ribbing (29 sts on each side) for a total of 10 cm (4 in) of ribbing
• Bound off using a variation of the Estonian bind off, in which I picked up a stitch from the row below then used the Estonian bind off technique. :) 

The total length of the leg and cuff was 18.8 cm (7 ⅜ in).

Yay! Another finished pair! :) Hubby says it's his hardest sock to put on yet - it fits better than a glove; it fits just like a sock! 😜

Inadvertent Spoils from PDX

I recently had to travel to Portland, OR for a quick (literally a 2-day) work trip.  To make the best (and most) of it, I was able to spend an evening perusing Portland's Pearl District.  I visited some of my favorite shops there: REI, Anthropologie (this store is amazing - it has 2 stories now and it even has a wedding section in addition to a huge furniture section), Sur La Table, West Elm, and  Whole Foods (if I didn't have such an early morning the next day, I would've visited many other stores as well).

On the way to some of these places, I stumbled upon Pearl Fiber Arts where I found this:

Sock yarn that's hand dyed specifically for this shop ... My kryptonite!

Then I saw this and was soooooooo tempted to buy it! 😍

Kitty, Unicorn and Hen yarn bowls!  The Unicorn was soooooooo cute! 

Fortunately, my good sense (and the thought of cracking one of these cuties on my concrete floors) brought me back down from my nearly (dangerous) impulsive buy! 😜

Then off I went to Whole Foods to find some Portland based stuff for a friend of mine.  I recalled the last time I was there that I had found this A-M-A-Z-I-N-G drinking chocolate there and I thought my friend would enjoy that.  So I inquired about it since I couldn't find it.  And I had 3! people help me find it.  Two of them (a manager and a sales associate) said, " Oh no.  You don't want to get our stuff.  You need to go to Cacao.  It's like a coffee shop but only serves the most amazing hot chocolate!"  They even helped me locate a shop (which was literally a block away).  Off I went and found this:

(Yes, I also bought one for myself and had THE most AMAZING cup of hot chocolate! 😍 Sorry, no picture of my hot chocolate - I was rushing off to my next stop!)

Then my final stop was Powell's Bookstore.  It was amazing - as usual! 😍❤️💟💖🦄🌈  And, while I did find a few books that really tempted me to buy 'em (the only thing that stopped me was knowing that I would have to lug it back with my already heavy work laptop), I found this for Hubby:

Isn't it sooo cute?  

It actually blended in with my actual (real) composition notebook I use for work!

(Yes, I managed to finagle this free sticker! 😝)

I wish I could've stayed longer and enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday there!

Happy Thanksgiving, PDX! 🦃

Another one bites the dust! Time to Try Again ...

My last hand towel didn't quite work out as well as I hoped so, I'm trying again with a different cotton.  I had purchased 3 skeins of Berroco Luna (and used about 2.3 skeins) and using my Denise US7 needles, I: 

1. Casted on 51 sts
2. Used the Linen Stitch for 50 rows (ending on a Row 2) 
3. Used the Linen Ridge Stitch for 108 rows (ending on a Row 1)
4. Used the Linen Stitch for 50 rows (ending on a Row 1)
5. Then bound off.

Here's what my finished product looks like:

Now, I hope it works out better than the last one! 😉  If it doesn't work out, at least I have another cotton skein to try out so, I'll be making (at least) one other hand towel for our new bathrooms.  I wonder how many hand towels I'll end up making ... 

I Love Yarn Day 2017

This year on I Love Yarn Day, I finished a pair of socks for myself.  I know - exciting.  Actually, what I really did was spend the day (and remainder of the weekend) reflecting on what I have done (knitting wise - so far), catching up up-dating my blog and my Ravelry projects.  

I realized that I actually didn't do much knitting this year (mostly because we spent a good portion of our year renovating our place during our every spare moments (and weekends)) and as such. we were simply too exhausted to do much else.  So my new goal (never mind trying to obtain my original goal that I had set for this year) was to finish as many small projects as I can for the remainder of the year.  Hopefully, it'll help get my knitting mojo back into high gear so I can try to reach my sweater goal (again) next year (and work on reducing my stash - again).  

Off to knitting I go.  Happy I Love Yarn Day! ❤️

Too Cute For Names Socks (Tabi monogatari v11)

I'm in between projects right now so, I thought I'd work on another pair of short socks for myself. Using my Lana Gatto Sock yarns and my Chiaogoo US0 needles, here's what I did:
   1. I started with a Provisional cast on with a total of 46 sts.
   2. K 1 straight row on each side, then connected in the round.
   3. K 20 rows in the round as part of the foot portion.
   4. Started the toes: with 23 sts on each side, splitting it up for 8 sts for big toe, 15 

       sts for remaining toes. 

   5. Big toe:

       §  Row 1:

          §  Front: k, m1, k, m1, k to the 2nd to the last st, m1, k, m1, k for a total of 12 

              sts

          §  Back: k, m1, k, m1, k to the 2nd to the last st, m1, k, m1, k for a total of 12 

              sts

       §  Row 2-15 (14 rows): k

       §  Row 16:

          §  Front: k2tog tbl, k to the last 2 sts, k2tog, total of 10 sts

          §  Back: k2tog tbl, k to the last 2 sts, k2tog, total of 10 sts

       §  Row 17: same as row 16 continuing to decrease 2 sts, total of 8 sts on each 

           side

       §  Row 18-20 (3 rows): k

       §  Row 21: same as row 17 continuing to decrease 2 sts, total of the 6 sts on 

          each side

       §  Row 22-23 (2 rows): k

       §  Row 24: same as row 21 continuing to decrease 2 sts, total of 4 sts on each 

          side

       §  Bound off using the Kitchener stitch. 

   The big toe came out to 4.7 cm (1 ⅞ in). 

   6. The rest of the toes: 

       §  Row 1:

          §  Front: k to the end, picking up 3 sts, for a total of 18 sts

          §  Back: picking up 3 sts, k, for a total of 18 sts

       §  Row 2: k

       §  Row 3:

          §  Front: k to the last 2 sts, k2tog (L) / ssk (R) for a total of 17 st

          §  Back: k2tog (L) / ssk (R), k to the end, for a total of 17 sts

       §  Row 4

          §  Front: k, k2tog (L) / ssk (R), k to the end for a total of 16 sts

          §  Back: k to the last 3 sts, k2tog (L) / ssk (R), k for a total of 16 sts

       §  Row 5-8 (4 rows): k

       §  Row 9:

          §  Front: k, k2tog tbl (L) / ssk (R), k to the end, for a total of 15 sts

          §  Back: k to the the last 3 sts, k2tog (L) / ssk (R), k for a total of 15 sts

       §  Row 10: k

       §  Row 11:

          §  Front: k, k2tog (L) / ssk (R), k to the end, for a total of 14 sts

          §  Back: k to the the last 3 sts, k2tog (L) / ssk (R), k for a total of 14 sts

       §  Row 12: k

       §  Row 13-14 (2 rows): same as row 11, continuing to decrease 2 sts, for a 

          total of 13 & 12 sts on each side

       §  Row 15-16 (2 rows): k

       §  Row 17: same as row 11, continuing to decrease 2 sts, for a total of 11 sts 

           on each side

       §  Row 18-19 (2 rows): k

       §  Row 20: same as row 17, continuing to decrease 2 sts, for a total of 10 sts 

          on each side

       §  Row 21: same as row 20, for a total of 9 sts on each side

       §  Row 22: same as row 21, for a total of 8 sts on each side

       §  Row 23-24 (2 rows): k

       §  Row 25: same as row 22, for a total of 7 sts on each side

       §  Row 26: k, k2tog (L) / ssk (R), k, ssk (L) / k2tog (R), k for a total of 5 sts on 

           each side

       §  Bound off using the Kitchener stitch.

   The rest of the toe came out to 4.5 cm (1 ¾ in).

Then I went back to the bottom of the provisional cast on and picked up the stitches to start the foot.
   7. Row 21: k to the end then pick up a twisted st from below for 24 sts on one 

       side & 23 sts on the other side 

   8. Row 22: k to the last 2 sts, k2tog for 23 sts on each side
   9. Row 23-77 (51/63 rows): k, maintaining 23 sts on each side
Including the initial 20 rows, this came out for a total of 17.5 cm (6 3/4 in)

With the foot done, I started on the heel portion. My friend, D loves using the Fish Lips Kiss Heel method so I thought I'd finally give it a try. Since the method is copyrighted, I can't give you much explanation as I normally do so, I'll just note any changes I did.
   10. Row 78: 

       §  Right side: K the "top" portion, adding 2 sts for a total of 25 sts; start the heel 

          on the "bottom" portion

       §  Left side: start the heel as you're already on the "bottom" portion.
   11. Row 79-90: Follow the Fish Lips Kiss Heel method until you have 7 twin stitch 

         (ts) knits & purls sts on each side and 9 regular sts
   This came out to 2.5 cm (1”).
   12. Row 91-105: Continue using the Fish Lips Kiss Heel method to turn the heel 

         until you have a total of 23 sts again. I generally followed the instructions but 

         when I got to the second ts, I found that there was a gap. What I did to rectify 

         this was to simply pick up the ts before it and knit/purl it together.  Then I 
         slipped stitch before finishing the next row.
   13. Row 106 (Left side only): Since the left side ended on a purl side, K to bring 
          you back to the correct side.
    It came out perfectly! :) *yay* :)

Side Note: comparisons between the German Short Row method and Fish Lips Kiss Heel method - which did I like better:
    Now that I've tried this other method, the Fish Lips Kiss Heel is much easier than 

    the German Short Row method because when turning the heel, there's not that 

    many stitches one needs to pick up to close out any gaps; you simply pick up 

    the twin stitch prior to it and voilà! you've instantly closed the gap. Other than 

    that, I could go either way in making and turning the heel. I think what will really 

    make or break the Fish Lips Kiss Heel method is the actual wear - will it hold up 

    to the vigorous wear of being pull on and off and crammed into and out of shoes 
    and so forth.  I think I will try this method on one of Hubby's socks to see how 
    well it will really wear as he's always harder on his socks than I am.

With the heel done, I finished off the leg: 

  13. Row 107: picked up 4 (R)/6 (L) sts on each side, k in the round for a total  
         of 27 sts on each side
  14. Row 108-127/132 (20 (R)/ 25 (L) rows): k in round, maintaining a total of 27 
        sts on each side.
  15. Row 128 (R): k2tog, k to the end for a total of 26 sts on each side

  16. Row 129 (R): K
  17. Row 130 (R): k2tog, k to the end for a total of 25 sts on each  lengside
  18. Row 131 (R): K
  19. Row 132 (R): k2tog, k to the end for a total of 24 sts on each side
  20. Row 133: K (R); k2tog, k to the end for a total 25 sts on each side (L)
  21. Row 134: k2tog, k to the end for a total of 23 sts on each side (R); k (L)
         Row 134-135 (2 rows (L)): K
  22. Row 135-137 (3 rows (R)): k
         Row 136 (L): k2tog, k to the end for a total 25 sts on each side
  23. Row 137 (L): K
  24. Row 138-147 (10 rows (R & L)): K
Total the leg was 10 cm (4 in)

With the leg done, it was time to actually finish off the sock with a short cuff as it was all I had left (*yay* homestretch!):
   15. Row 148-177 (30 rows): complete cuff using 1x1 ribbing, for a total of 8 cm 

         (3 1/8 in) of ribbing 

   16. Bound off using a variation of the Estonian bind off, in which I picked up a 

         stitch from the row below then used the Estonian bind off technique. :)
The total length of the leg and cuff was 16 cm (6 3/16 in).
Look another finished pair! *Yay*! :)

Cornucopia o' Yarn

It's finally Fall:

To celebrate, it was time to remake my hand towel for my bathroom.  So, off I went to Isle Knit to find some cotton yarn on my day off.  Here's what I picked up:

Plymouth Yarn Fantasy Naturale Multi in a Blue

This yarn is suppose to comes out tweedy and 

is the recommended yarn of choice for Sue's own hand towels

and

Cascade Yarns Luna in a Teal

I couldn't help it ... I just loved the colour!  

(And, it didn't help either that it was also 20% off!)

They're both cotton yarns so, I hope they work out better than my initial one.  I plan to use a linen stitch with the Plymouth Yarn and maybe a moss stitch (or a diamond stitch) with the Cascade Yarn.  We'll see what stitch pattern really works out with them!

Also, while I was there, I found this:

Sock Yarn - my Achilles heel

I couldn't help it.  It was the perfect colour combo for Hubby and it was also on sale.  What can I say ... sock yarn truly is my Achilles heel!

Now, I need to stop buying yarn and start finishing up all these new projects!

OMG - It was too cute to resist! Harinezumi (ハリネズミ)!

I'm finally on a 4/10 (four 10 hour days) schedule and have (finally) settled into my new routine.  On my first (real) day off (I've been on this schedule for two (2) months now but have been occupied by other "necessary" tasks until now), I had a chance to visit some of my favorite places in our Downtown area.  I got revisit many places that I had already known about, new places that I heard had moved into the area and even discovered a few new places.  One of those places happens to be a yarn shop, Isle Knit.  It's a tiny little store in an office building that is packed (floor to ceiling) full of yarn! 😍  And, the owner, Sue, is just as sweet as can be.  While I stopped by to have a look see of her stash of yarn, I ran across this:

Hedgehogs!! 😍💖 (in an array of colours!)  Sue makes them for our local Ronald McDonald Charity house for the kids; she says it gives them a little something to hold on to and it provides them a bit of comfort.  I totally fell in love with it and had to make a pair for my girls.  So here's what I ended up getting:

The pattern

The yarn

Poor Sue ...  She had to watch me waffle back and forth on several skeins of yarn in several colours; to make matters worse, she introduced me to more yarn! 😵😱  I finally settled on these two so she could finally close up shop and go home.

I need to finish up on another project before I start this one (and I can't wait to do so)!  More to come! 😃

The Perfect Bath Mat

I've been looking for the perfect bath mat for ages ... I finally broke down and decided to just make one.  Using a skein of Bernat Blanket Ombres & Multi yarn I had originally purchased for Hubby to make a camera cover and my Denise US15 needles, I casted on 81 sts (the length of the mat (105 cm)) and did the following:
1. K
2. Linen St for 2 rows
3. Make 46 rows of the following stitch pattern:
    Row 1: K, P, K to the last 2 sts, P, K
    Row 2: K, P to the last st, K
(this makes up most of the width of the mat (~60 cm))
4. Linen St for 2 rows
5. K 1 row
6. Bind off.

After using the first skein, I realized that I needed way more yarn! (Who knew that a bath mat would take up so much yarn?!) So, off to Wal-mart we went to pick up another three (3) skeins. Upon using my third skein, it looked like my mat would be wide enough. *yay* 🤗 (I returned the "fourth" skein - it only took a total of three (3) skeins to make my entire mat! 😊)

Here's what it looks like:

It fits perfectly! 😄 Let's hope it's as soft and squishy feeling as it looks and feels as well as absorb some water when I step out of the tub! 😉

Sometimes, You Just Need to Do It Yourself (DIY)

We've been in the process of renovating/up-dating our home.  For a good portion of it, we've been putting in sweat equity and doing it ourselves.  During this process, some things in our home have changed.  One particular item is how our hand towels are held (or not) in our bathrooms.  In our "old" bathroom, the hand towel used to just sit on the counter.  However, in our "new" bathroom, there's now a hook to hold the hand towel.  Now, the "old" hand towel looked ridiculously small hanging on the new hook (besides the fact that it had lived (significantly) longer than it should have in the life of a hand towel).  So, that meant that it was time to get new hand towels as well (to match with our new bathroom).

To test the waters, I dug up another hand towel we had and found that it was ridiculously large; a Goldilocks effect ensued - first, we had a towel that was too small; now, it's too big.  So, like any DYIer, I decided that I would simply have to make my own hand towel to fit my new space perfectly - so that it was "just right".

Fortunately, I (still) had one (1) skein of Lily's Sugar 'n Cream in Lava Lamp left and decided that it was going to be my test piece.  Using my Denise US10.5 needles, I casted on 25 sts and used the Linen Stitch for 165 rows (ending on a Row 1).  Then I bound off.

Here's what my finished product looks like:

Now, I hope it works out as perfectly as I envisioned it! 😉  If it does, it looks like I'll be making a few more hand towels for our new bathrooms (*yay*, reason to try out different cotton yarns! 😁  There's always a silver lining!😆).

Up-date:  After washing it a few times, it shrunk a bit.  I think I need to make my next one a bit wider.  Additionally, it's true what the many reviews say about Lily's Sugar 'n Cream: if you're using it as a dishcloth/washcloth, it just moves the water around and doesn't actually absorb anything.  Looks like I'll be finding different cotton yarn to try again!

Another Summer Market Bag

Time to use up my stash and finish those "smaller" projects that's been sitting around. That means another Market Bag! :) After making (& using) my last market bag, I found it a bit narrow for our needs so, I found another pattern that I thought would suite our grocery (& other shopping) needs better: Knitted Mesh Market bag by Gretta F. Heddy. Using my Denise US13 & 15 needles and the remainder of my Peaches 'N Cream yarn and a skein of my Lilly Sugar 'n Cream yarn, my mesh bag adventure began.

I tried very hard to follow the pattern. I started off the bag as stated on the pattern. In hind sight, I think I would've done a cable cast on for the handles to make it sturdier.  Then it was onto the body of the bag.  As stated on the pattern I switched to my US15 needles; after doing two (2) rows, I realized that my gauge was simply too big for the body. Thus, for the remainder of the bag, I switched back to my US13 needles and finished off the bag for a total of thirty-four (34) rows (nine (9) inches). Finally, I was ready to finish the bottom of the bag. I chose the flat bottom option and proceeded to follow the instructions. After completing the final four (4) rows, it looked .... narrow. So, I added an additional four (4) rows for a total of eight (8) rows then crocheted the bag closed (instead of doing a three-day bind off. Here's what the bag looks like:

Now, it's time to give this bag a whirl! ❤️